Knit Watch Cap question

[srossio]

Hello everyone,

Just a quick question on a knit watch cap.

I received a grouping from a World War II Navy Vet (since passed). In the collection was the standard blue knit watch cap (nice period weave, a few pulls, etc). I can remember him showing it to me years ago (before he died) and his son told me that his dad always talked about how that was one of the few uniform items he saved over the years. He was a radioman and served jointly with the 4th Marines durining the invasion of Kwajalein. I should also add that he only served during the WWII period.

The question is that on further inspection of the item during the cleaning process I noticed a small black rectangular tag with white lettering which reads:
Type A-4 Spec #3104
W 535 WC 27801
Goodwear Property
Air Force U.S. Army

I have seen and handled the "beenies"/mechanics caps etc. used by the Army and the Army Air Force but I have always found them in the standard O.D. green. This one is clearly a deep Navy blue/black.
It doesn't appear to have been dyed as the white lettering on the tag is nice and crisp.

I guess my primary question(s) are: Why dark blue for an A-4 Army Air Force knit cap?
Did the Air Force use these into the 50's etc. during their transition to blue?
Is this something he picked up later in life (which seems doubtful but???)

I love these mysteries and I am sure there is a simple answer that I am just missing but I thought I would toss it to the colletive group.
Thanks,

Steve

[srossio]

Here is the cap after cleaning...

[srossio]

Here is the tag on the inside...

[srossio]

And the knitting along the edge/brim...

[BROBS]

good question... never seen one with a tag like that.

 

usually it's a pretty plain white tag.

 

-Brian

[doyler]

Normally the A4 caps are OD

 

I have two examples and both I believe have the black/gold lables but I have seen other AAC items with the black silver/white lables.If I can get to mine I will look.

 

Some may say this was dyed but it doesnt appear dyed blue to me.

 

Can you tell if the lable is hand or machine sewn.

 

Definately odd one as it appears to be a Navy style watch cap.

 

In my thinking if it were a post war Air Force one it would have the USAF as they went to this designation I recall in 1947 but cintinued to use a transition of OD and blue uniforms and mix of insignias.

 

Be fun to see what this one turns out to be.

Thanks for posting.Its a cool knit cap.

[kammo-man]

Wow ,

NEVER seen one like this before with this tag.

Its a really really really nice piece.

 

owen

[vintageproductions]

I have had a couple of these. Same color on the tag.

Both came out of WWII USN groups.

At first I thought they were just dyed, but looking closer they weren't.

[BROBS]

I wonder if in some goofy strange cooperation the AAF procured some caps for the Navy in one of their contracts?

 

I agree with Ron that if Air Force (post 47) wouldn't say Army Air Force.

 

-Brian

[srossio]

Thanks for the comments so far...all of you have confirmed my thinking making me feel not so crazy...
This was one thing that I was really wracking my brain over.

I will post more pics in the groupings section as I get things cleaned etc.

[Allan H.]

I have my dad's watch cap from the 1950's and it has the same A-4 label inside. Additionally, there is no way it was ever dyed. I would imagine that the army air forces ordered a ton of this cap in OD and the navy ordered a ton in dark blue. I doubt that the ladies sewing labels into the caps at the knitting mill gave it much thought when they were sewing them in that they weren't using a navy label.

 

Allan

[3505]

Just picked up a Type A-4 - with the same manufacturer as your navy blue/black cap, but this cap is dark OD.

 

Jeff

[3505]

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